System and method for providing an interactive vehicle diagnostic display

• US 10,430,026 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2016
• Issued: 10/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Snap-On Incorporated
• Inventors: Merg, Patrick S., Mercer, Todd, Brozovich, Roy Steven, Costantino, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Song, Daeho D
• Application Number:
  US15/286,169
• Publication Number:
  US 20180095609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,091 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/20 Administration of product repair or maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30248 Vehicle exterior or interior
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2205/02 using a vehicle scan tool
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks

Abstract

A client computing system (CCS) receives a download including (i) an image representative of a vehicle component, (ii) symbol data associated with a first symbol, (iii) a set of one or more selectable identifiers, and (iv) supplemental information associated with the vehicle component. Each selectable identifier can indicate a respective portion of the supplemental information. After receiving the download, the CCS displays the image and the first symbol without displaying the set and the supplemental information. While the image and the first symbol are displayed without the set, the CCS receives a first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol. The CCS then responsively displays the set. While the set is displayed, the CCS receives a second input corresponding to selection of a first selectable identifier from the set. The CCS then responsively displays the respective portion of the supplemental information indicated by the first selectable identifier.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by at least one processor connected to a display of a client computing system, a download from a server including (i) an image representative of a vehicle component, (ii) symbol data associated with a first symbol, (iii) a set of selectable identifiers, the set including one or more selectable identifiers, and (iv) supplemental information associated with the vehicle component, wherein each selectable identifier of the set indicates a respective portion of the supplemental information associated with the vehicle component and, when selected, causes the display to display the respective portion of the supplemental information;

displaying, on the display after receiving the download, the image and the first symbol without displaying the set of selectable identifiers;

receiving, by the at least one processor while the image and the first symbol are displayed on the display without the set of selectable identifiers, a first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol;

displaying, on the display in response to receiving the first input, the set of selectable identifiers;

receiving, by the at least one processor while the set of selectable identifiers is displayed, a second input corresponding to selection of a first selectable identifier from the displayed set of selectable identifiers; and

displaying, on the display in response to receiving the second input, the respective portion of the supplemental information indicated by the first selectable identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the download further includes service estimate information, wherein the service estimate information includes at least one of cost information indicating a price of the vehicle component and labor information pertaining to servicing of the vehicle component, and

wherein the method further comprises:

displaying, on the display while displaying the set of selectable identifiers, the service estimate information and at least one selection graphic associated with the service estimate information;

receiving, by the at least one processor, a third input corresponding to selection of the at least one selection graphic associated with the service estimate information; and

outputting, by the at least one processor in response to receiving the third input corresponding to selection of the at least one selection graphic associated with the service estimate information, a request to generate or update a service estimate based on the service estimate information.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the supplemental information includes one or more of (i) a component test information, (ii) a real-fix information, (iii) a removal and replacement information, (iv) a connector view information, (v) a component location information, (vi) a technical service bulletin information, (vii) a top diagnostic trouble code information, (viii) a top symptom information, (ix) a parameter identifier (PID) value information, (x) a baseline data information, (xi) a vehicle component calibration information, and (xii) a vehicle component reset information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the at least one processor, an identifier of at least one characteristic of a vehicle having the vehicle component, and

outputting, by the at least one processor, a request for the download, wherein the request for the download includes the identifier of the at least one characteristic of the vehicle,

wherein receiving the download occurs after transmitting the request for the download.

5. The method of claim 1,

wherein the image depicts a wiring harness connectable to or part of the vehicle component,

wherein the first symbol is a first symbol for a first circuit within the wiring harness, and

wherein the method further comprises:

receiving, by the at least one processor while the image and the first symbol are displayed, an input corresponding to selection of the first symbol for the first circuit;

in response to receiving the input corresponding to selection of the first symbol for the first circuit, displaying, on the display, at least one electrical measurement associated with the first circuit.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the download includes the at least one electrical measurement associated with the first circuit.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

transmitting, by a vehicle interface device, a request for a data value associated with a parameter identifier (PID) used by the vehicle component, wherein the PID is associated with an electrical signal carried on the first circuit;

receiving, by the vehicle interface device, the data value associated with the PID;

converting, by the at least one processor, the data value associated with PID to obtain the at least one electrical measurement.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

displaying, on the display in response to receiving the input corresponding to selection of the first symbol for the first circuit, at least one voltage waveform representing multiple electrical measurements corresponding to the first circuit obtained over a period of time,

wherein the at least one voltage waveform comprises a baseline voltage waveform representing multiple electrical measurements or a voltage waveform representing multiple electrical measurements obtained from a vehicle connected to the display.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

displaying, on the display in response to receiving the input corresponding to selection of the first symbol for the first circuit, at least one of a minimum expected value of the at least one electrical measurement associated with the first circuit and a maximum expected value of the at least one electrical measurement associated with the first circuit.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the at least one of the minimum expected value of the at least one electrical measurement associated with the first circuit and the maximum expected value of the at least one electrical measurement associated with the first circuit and the at least one electrical measurement are displayed in a single graph on the display.

11. The method of claim 1,

wherein the symbol data includes a default set of coordinate points with respect to a default size of the image,

wherein the set of coordinate points include at least one coordinate point that corresponds to a coordinate point of a grid defined for the display, and

wherein the at least one processor establishes the first symbol based on the default set of coordinate points, the grid defined for the display and a zoom level of the image with respect to the default size of the image.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the displayed image shows at least a portion of the vehicle component.

13. A client computing system comprising:

a display;

at least one processor; and

data storage comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the client computing system to perform operations comprising;

receiving a download from a server including (i) an image representative of a vehicle component, (ii) symbol data associated with a first symbol, (iii) a set of selectable identifiers, the set including one or more selectable identifiers, and (iv) supplemental information associated with the vehicle component, wherein each selectable identifier of the set indicates a respective portion of the supplemental information associated with the vehicle component and, when selected, causes the display to display the respective portion of the supplemental information;

displaying, on the display after receiving the download, the image and the first symbol without displaying the set of selectable identifiers;

receiving, while the image and the first symbol are displayed on the display without the set of selectable identifiers, a first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol;

displaying, on the display in response to receiving the first input, the set of selectable identifiers;

receiving, while the set of selectable identifiers is displayed, a second input corresponding to selection of a first selectable identifier from the displayed set of selectable identifiers; and

displaying, on the display in response to receiving the second input, the respective portion of the supplemental information indicated by the first selectable identifier.

14. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, upon execution by a client computing system, cause the client computing system to perform operations comprising:

receiving, by at least one processor of the client computing system connected to a display of the client computing system, a download from a server including (i) an image representative of a vehicle component, (ii) symbol data associated with a first symbol, (iii) a set of selectable identifiers, the set including one or more selectable identifiers, and (iv) supplemental information associated with the vehicle component, wherein each selectable identifier of the set indicates a respective portion of the supplemental information associated with the vehicle component and, when selected, causes the display to display the respective portion of the supplemental information;

displaying, on the display after receiving the download, the image and the first symbol without displaying the set of selectable identifiers;

receiving, by the at least one processor while the image and the first symbol are displayed on the display without the set of selectable identifiers, a first input corresponding to selection of the first symbol;

displaying, on the display in response to receiving the first input, the set of selectable identifiers;

receiving, by the at least one processor while the set of selectable identifiers is displayed, a second input corresponding to selection of a first selectable identifier from the displayed set of selectable identifiers; and

displaying, on the display in response to receiving the second input, the respective portion of the supplemental information indicated by the first selectable identifier.